Accelerating growth for a Series A Construction Robotics pioneer

'Because of the quality and speed of this hire we've been able to continue growing the business.'

Rugged Robotics is a Series A stage, Houston-based automated layout provider for the construction industry. They provide a complete layout service, parsing digital design data from the CAD/Revit models, and deploying with their robotic platform to print detailed layouts, ultimately enabling faster, more accurate installation.

Founded by construction industry veteran Derrick Morse, and NASA Engineer Logan Farrell, they aim to combine experience and expertise from the construction and robotics industries to build a practical solution to real-world problems faced by construction crews every day. 

Their goal isn't to replace construction crews but, instead, empower them with solutions that make their lives easier and more efficient - a win-win. 
 

So where does FMC fit into all of this?

With more and more attention being turned to construction automation due to the ongoing labour shortage, and robotics gaining acceptance in the built environment, Rugged Robotics has emerged as an optimal solution for complex projects.
 
With an expanding backlog, Rugged Robotics needed an additional VDC Engineer. This person had to be capable of understanding the challenges on-site, as well as having the know-how to interpret data for robot input. Whilst time was a factor, the right blend of personality, work experience and interest in the future of construction technology was crucial in ensuring the new employee would be able to ramp up quickly and be comfortable with an evolving role.
 
The challenge Rugged Robotics had was that they don’t yet have the brand awareness to receive organic inbound applicants that fit the rare profile they’re looking for, and there simply wasn't enough time to dedicate internally to sourcing and initial vetting of candidates. 

What did FMC do?

Our approach is designed to get to the heart of the culture and mission of our clients so we can take them to market in the best way possible. We're all about reducing friction points in the hiring process, by making sure it's equitable and all parties are comfortable with the any decision made. Because of this, really getting to know Rugged Robotics as a business and what they needed in their team was key.
 
So, we started by speaking to their existing VDC Engineer to understand the day to day of their role, as well as speaking to the Head of Operations about their 'bigger picture' ambitions. We then used this insight to craft a message to market that would attract the off-market talent Rugged Robotics needed.
 
We approached our existing network and started to engage with people with a background in BIM, VDC or Revit, and a track record of being involved with customers on-site. It was important that we conducted a robust search to create a diverse shortlist of candidates that would both enhance and build upon the existing talent in the business, as well as complementing Rugged Robotics' ambitions to grow sustainably.

“You showed a good understanding of what we needed as a technology player in construction and what made someone a good hire in construction. You digested both the role and our needs, but also little bits of the culture and the intangible things that were important to us.” Paul Valle, Head of Operations

What was the outcome?

Once we'd mapped the market and proactively engaged with people we thought were a good fit for the role, there was an obvious stand out candidate who had a strong knowledge of the market thanks to her previous use of automated layout technology. 

Whilst she wasn't actively looking for a new role, the information we shared with her about Rugged Robotics' mission aligned with her career motivators. With degrees in Architecture and Construction Science, paired with 5 years' experience in project management and VDC roles, the blend of technology and site experience aligned perfectly with what the team needed.

“You hit the nail on the head quickly in this search process. You guys identified a really good candidate as the first candidate, everything clicked, and we didn't have to go through a long process." 

What impact is the VDC Engineer hire having?

"Since they started just over 6 months ago, they’ve made a real impact.

Because of the quality and speed of this hire we've been able to continue growing the business and having them in the team has helped us meet the growing demand.

Our other VDC Engineer who hasn't gone on vacation for a while was able to finally go away for two weeks, and it was a zero-stress thing when a year ago things would've ground to a halt without them there. 

They’ve demonstrated a very quick adoption to everything we're doing. Because of their construction and project management background they’ve helped grow some of our practices and processes to take things through the pipeline too. They’ve come in swinging and are doing a really great job!" 
 

FMC will continue to work in partnership with Rugged Robotics to support their future growth across roles that require a blend of technology and construction experience.